Studio Album · No. 4
Press Play Songwriting Credits by Puff Daddy
Produced by Diddy, J-Dub, K-Def, Grind Music, Havoc, Sean C, Jai, Younglord, Just Blaze, Danja, Big Boi, Rob Lewis, Kanye West, will.i.am, Mario Winans, Timbaland, Rich Harrison, The Neptunes
Holds writing credit on 19 of 19 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 19 / 19 documented
Scored across the 19 tracks with documented writers, by whether Puff Daddy carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 19 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Press Play is a curator's record more than a writer's. Combs appears in the writing credit of nearly every song, but each track carries a crowd of co-writers and a different producer, so his authorship is collaborative rather than solo: he shapes the guest hooks and directs the production teams while the Hitmen, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Timbaland, Danja, will.i.am, Rich Harrison and The Neptunes build the beats. Much of the songcraft belongs to the featured singers and their writing partners, and the composer credits also fold in the writers of several sampled songs, including Tears for Fears on the intro, Johnny Pate on 'We Gon' Make It' and Prince on 'Special Feeling' and 'Last Night.' The through-line is Combs as vocalist, host and executive assembler rather than the pen behind the words.
Press Play is the third studio album by Sean Combs, released October 16, 2006 and the first billed simply as Diddy after his P. Diddy era. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with about 170,000 first-week copies and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop and Top Rap charts. Combs works here as a curator and frontman rather than a lone author, stacking almost every track with guest vocalists and a rotating cast of producers. The Hitmen production camp anchors the record alongside outside names like Kanye West, Just Blaze, Timbaland, Danja, will.i.am, Rich Harrison and The Neptunes, and the guest list runs from Nicole Scherzinger and Christina Aguilera to Nas, Cee-Lo Green, Big Boi, Brandy, Mary J. Blige and Keyshia Cole. Three singles carried it: 'Come to Me' with Nicole Scherzinger, 'Tell Me' with Christina Aguilera and 'Last Night' with Keyshia Cole. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Track Listing & Credits 19 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Testimonial (Intro)
|
DiddyL. WatsonRoland OrzabalCurt Smith | Sean CombsL. WatsonRoland OrzabalCurt Smith | DiddyJ-Dub | Diddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
We Gon' Make It
|
DiddyJack KnightL. WatsonJ. TaylorJohnny PateK. Hansford | Sean CombsJack KnightL. WatsonJ. TaylorJohnny PateK. Hansford | K-DefDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Jack Knight (Featured Vocals) |
| 3 |
I Am (Interlude)
|
DiddyL. WatsonD. MatthewsL. CoppinB. DavisBerry GordyPatrice HollowayFrank Wilson | Sean CombsL. WatsonD. MatthewsL. CoppinB. DavisBerry GordyPatrice HollowayFrank Wilson | Grind MusicDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
The Future
|
DiddyHavocT. Jamerson | Sean CombsKejuan MuchitaT. Jamerson | Havoc | Diddy (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Hold Up
|
DiddyG.C. JohnsonHavocT. JamersonAngela HunteJerry Peters | Sean CombsG.C. JohnsonKejuan MuchitaT. JamersonAngela HunteJerry Peters | Sean CHavoc | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Angela Hunte (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Come to Me
#9
|
DiddyMario WinansJ. WhiteS. WinansNicole ScherzingerS. LawrenceR. Greene Jr.R. FriersonY. Izuagbe | Sean CombsMario WinansJ. WhiteS. WinansNicole ScherzingerS. LawrenceR. Greene Jr.R. FriersonY. Izuagbe | JaiYounglordDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Nicole Scherzinger (Featured Vocals) |
| 7 |
Tell Me
#47
|
DiddyJack KnightL. WatsonS. JonesS. LawrenceR. MontgomerySean GarrettE. WyceJ. Smith | Sean CombsJack KnightL. WatsonS. JonesS. LawrenceR. MontgomerySean GarrettE. WyceJ. Smith | Just Blaze | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Christina Aguilera (Featured Vocals) |
| 8 |
Wanna Move
|
DiddyDanjaBig BoiT. SmithC. Harris Jr.J. WhiteC.P. HarrisK. Oliver | Sean CombsNathaniel HillsAntwan PattonT. SmithC. Harris Jr.J. WhiteC.P. HarrisK. Oliver | DanjaBig Boi | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Ciara (Featured Vocals)Big Boi (Featured Vocals, Rap)Scar (Featured Vocals) |
| 9 |
Diddy Rock
|
DiddyDanjaTimbalandTwistaP. JonesL. Mathis | Sean CombsNathaniel HillsTimothy MosleyCarl MitchellP. JonesL. Mathis | Danja | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Shawnna (Featured Vocals, Rap)Twista (Featured Vocals, Rap)Timbaland (Featured Vocals) |
| 10 |
Claim My Place (Interlude)
|
DiddyMario WinansS. LawrenceR. Lewis | Sean CombsMario WinansS. LawrenceRob Lewis | Rob Lewis | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Avant (Featured Vocals)The Movement Orchestra (Orchestra) |
| 11 |
Everything I Love
|
DiddyL. WatsonNasKanye WestCee-Lo Green | Sean CombsL. WatsonNasir JonesKanye Omari WestThomas DeCarlo Callaway | Kanye WestDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Nas (Featured Vocals, Rap)Cee-Lo Green (Featured Vocals) |
| 12 |
Special Feeling
|
Diddywill.i.am | Sean CombsWilliam AdamsPrince Rogers Nelson | will.i.amDiddyMario Winans | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Mika Lett (Featured Vocals) |
| 13 |
Crazy Thang (Interlude)
|
DiddyR. Lewis | Sean CombsRob Lewis | Rob Lewis | Diddy (Lead Vocals)S. Rosete (Featured Vocals) |
| 14 |
After Love
|
DiddyTimbalandDanjaKeri HilsonJ. WhiteJ. Washington | Sean CombsTimothy MosleyNathaniel HillsKeri Lynn HilsonJ. WhiteJ. Washington | TimbalandDanja | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Keri Hilson (Featured Vocals) |
| 15 |
Through the Pain (She Told Me)
|
Mario WinansDiddyJ. White | Mario WinansSean CombsJ. White | Mario WinansDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Mario Winans (Featured Vocals) |
| 16 |
Thought You Said
|
Mario WinansDiddyL. WatsonM. JonesSean GarrettS. Jones | Mario WinansSean CombsL. WatsonM. JonesSean GarrettS. Jones | Mario WinansDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Brandy (Featured Vocals) |
| 17 |
Last Night
#10
|
DiddyJack KnightMario WinansS. Lawrence | Sean CombsJack KnightMario WinansS. LawrencePrince Rogers Nelson | Mario WinansDiddy | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Keyshia Cole (Featured Vocals) |
| 18 |
Making It Hard
|
DiddyL. WatsonRich HarrisonSean GarrettP. JonesE. WyceR. Garland | Sean CombsL. WatsonRichard HarrisonSean GarrettP. JonesE. WyceR. Garland | Rich Harrison | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Mary J. Blige (Featured Vocals) |
| 19 |
Partners for Life
|
DiddyRick RossL. WatsonPharrell Williams | Sean CombsWilliam Leonard Roberts IIL. WatsonPharrell Williams | The Neptunes | Diddy (Lead Vocals)Jamie Foxx (Featured Vocals) |